Three significant changes that will affect reimbursement rates go into effect January 1, 2026:
Conversion factor changes
Relative Value Unit (RVU) efficiency adjustment
Practice Expense changes
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tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 8
Reader Questions: Don't Get Burned With Simple Burn Coding
Question: A patient came in with first- and second-degree burns on her hand. The surgeon cleaned and dressed the burn but didn't perform debridement. Should I bill 16000 and 16020?Rhode Island Subscriber Answer: You should only report 16020 (Dressings and/or debridement, initial or subsequent; without anesthesia, office or hospital, small) in this case.A burn usually involves more severe tissue damage in the center - the second-degree burn - and radiates out with less severe burning on the outer edges - the first-degree burn. The more complicated treatment of the second-degree burn (16020) would include the adjacent simpler...
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